Corpse headrest



MF- /3 *iziLiiiij I INVENTOR,

BY WYMMYMWZZ 1937. v s. H. HANSON v 2,090,865

CORPSE HEADREST Filed July 9, 1936 ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 24, 1937 UNITED smras ATEN'E' OFFICE 4.- Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in corpse head rests, and more particularly to an adjustable head rest for use in connection with an embalming table to permit better positioning of the upper portion of a corpse, especially the head thereof, for more eifective embalming.

For embalming purposes a corpse is placed on a table and means are provided for engaging the neck so as to hold the head in a slightly raised or inclined position. With the head rests now in use, engagement is across the neck of the corpse and the arrangement is such that if the corpse is fleshy, the neck flesh will be distorted and creased and the appearance will be impaired; the embalmers work is made diflicult and satisfactory results, as to appearance, can not be obtained.

Also, the prior supporting devices do not adequately engage proper portions of the head and are not universally adjustable.

It is, therefore, the primary object of the present invention to provide a corpse head rest which overcomes all of the objections of the prior devices and provides for the adequate support of the head portion of a corpse in a manner so that various adjustments, in all directions, are attainable to properly position the head, and which does not have the objection of unduly creasing, flattening or distorting certain flesh portions of the body.

A further object of the invention is to provide a corpse head rest which may be adjusted to any desired inclination so as to permit raising and lowering of the head of the corpse relative to the body, and which may further be adjusted laterally to permit tilted or sidewise disposition of the head.

A further object of the invention is to provide a corpse head rest in which adjustable means are provided for engaging the ears of the corpse to give additional stability to the body.

A further object of the invention is to provide a corpse head rest which may be embodied as a unitaryor integral part of a morticians table, or which may be provided as a separate unit for mounting on a suitable support.

A further object of the invention is to provide a corpse head rest which is of very simple construction, which is easily manipulated and adjusted, which occupies a minimum amount of space, which is strong and durable, and which is well adapted for the purposes set forth.

With the above and other objects in View, the invention consists of the improved corpse head rest, and its parts and combinations as set forth 5 in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawing in which the same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of the views:

Fig. l is a side view of the improved head rest;

Fig. 2 is an end View thereof;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the head rest; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1 and on a larger scale.

While the invention has been illustrated as being incorporated in a head rest which is a separate unit for removable positioning on a suitable support or table, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be unduly restricted thereto, and the improved adjustable head rest may be secured to or embodied in a standard morticians table.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, it will appear that the head rest includes an elongated narrow bar 8 provided at one end with a foot 9 and at the other end with a transverse arm Hi having feet ll at the extremities thereof. The under surfaces of the feet 9 and l l are preferably provided with rubber pads. The portions 8, 9 and it] obviously constitute the base or supporting portion of the head rest. The upper face of the bar portion 8 has formed in approximately the rear half thereof, a plurality of ratchet teeth 42. The forward end portion of the bar 8 or base is provided with an up-struck lug l3 which is pivotally engaged or embraced on opposite face portions by bifurcated ends [4 of a supporting arm 55. The connection between the bifurcations I4 and the lug i3 is efiected by means of a pivot bolt I6.

The intermediate portion of the supporting arm I5 is also provided with bifurcations ll between which the upper end portion of a ratchet arm l8 extends and is pivotally secured by a pivot bolt 19. The lower end portion of the ratchet arm I8 is angled and formed as a dog 29 for selective engagement with any of the ratchet teeth I2,

The inner or rear end of the arm i5 is also provided with bifurcations 2i and pivotally extended therebetween is a ratchet wheel portion 22 integral with and depending from an intermediate lower portion of a body supporting plate 23. The ratchet 22 is pivotally mounted between the bifurcations 2i by means of a pivot bolt 24. A portion of the interior of the inner end of the arm [5 is formed with a recess 25 in which a movable ratchet dog 26 is slidably mounted. The free end of said dog is angled to selectively engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel 22, and the other end of the dog is reduced and is engaged by a confined coiled spring 21. Side walls of the arm 15, adjacent the recess 25, are provided with slots 28 through which the ends of a pin 29 project, said pin being fast on the dog 26 and being for the purpose of manually sliding the dog to disengage it from the ratchet wheel 22. Disengaging movements of the same are against the tension of the spring 2'! and said spring serves to yieldingly hold the dog in engagement with said ratchet when it is not being manipulated.

The plate 23 is formed at its forward end with a slightly upwardly curved portion 23' adapted to engage the central lower neck portion or between the shoulder blades of a corpse, while the major portion of the plate 23 engages the neck and rear of the head of the corpse for supporting purposes. There is depending from the rear end of the plate 23 a U-shaped bracket 30 to adjustably and clampingly receive an intermediate portion of a transversely extended yoke 3|. The yoke is adjustably supported in said bracket 30 by means of a small vise or clamping device which includes a cylinder 32 in threaded engagement with the depending portion of a bolt 33 extended through adjacent end portions of the plate 23 and the bracket 30. The lower end portion of the cylinder 32 is enlarged and carries an operating bar 34. Obviously, by turning the operating bar so as to lower the cylinder 32, the clamping engagement of the bracket 30 is lessened or released, while turning movement of the bar 39 in a direction to raise the cylinder 32 on the screw 33, causes a tightening or clamping efiect on the bracket 30 relative to the yoke 3i.

The opposite upper free arm portions of the yoke 3| are apertured and each has slidably extended therethrough an ear rod 35. The aperture for an end of the yoke has integral therewith and projecting laterally therefrom, a split externally threaded bushing 36 through which the rod extends and clamping of the rod in an adjusted position is effected by the tightening of a lock nut 31 threaded externally on the bushing. The outer ends of the rods 35 are provided with heads 38 for convenience in manipulating the same, while the inner ends of said rods are reduced and carry rounded pads 39 adapted for lodgement within the ears of a corpse head.

In the use of the improved head rest, the same is mounted on or secured to the head end portion of an embalmers or morticians table, and is positioned longitudinally of the table with the end ll directed away from the head end of the table. The body of the corpse is positioned on the table in the usual manner and the improved device aids in the convenient proper support of the head portion of the corpse. It is desirable that the head of the corpse be elevated or tilted somewhat above the plane of the body proper and for this purpose, the ratchet arm I8 is engaged with proper ratchet teeth I2 to afford the desired inclination to the arm l5. The ratchet 26 is retracted, whereupon the head supporting plate 23 may be pivotally turned relative to the upper end of the arm I 5. The member 23 is adjusted so that it will engage the lower neck and rear head portion of the corpse, and after it has been set at the desired angle or inclination, the ratchet 26 is engaged with a proper tooth of the ratchet member 22. By releasing the vise or clamp 32, the yoke 3| may be adjusted in several directions. It may be moved lengthwise in the bracket 30 and. it may further be rocked either forwardly or rearwardly to a desired angle. Usually, it is desirable to position the head of a corpse in a slightly turned position and the adjustment of the yoke permits of engagement with the head in any position of the latter. When the head is positioned as desired, the yoke is adjusted in any of its directions of movement so as to bring the rods 35 in line with the ears of the corpse. Thereupon, the vise 32 is tightened to hold the yoke in adjusted position, and then the rods 35 may be pushed inwardly so as to engage the ends 39 thereof in the ears of the corpse head.

It will therefore be seen that the improved head rest provides for secure engagement with portions of the head of a corpse in any desired position of the head and it also permits adjustments after the head has been engaged to raise or lower or further tilt or turn the head. These adjustments are obviously made very quickly and easily. It will be noted that the engaging plate 23 supports the rear of the head and engages the neck but securement of the head is effected through the ear-engaging rods 35. It is therefore possible to securely support and engage the corpse head without distorting, marring or impairing the appearance of the neck portion.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the improved corpse head rest is easily and conveniently manipulated, provides for maximum adjustments and arrangements of the upper por tion of the corpse, is novel in construction and operation, and is well adapted for the purposes described.

What is claimed as the invention is:--

1. In combination, a base, an arm pivotally secured to said base, a plate member angularly ad ustably secured to a free end portion of the arm, and a yoke carried by said plate member.

2. In combination, a base, an arm pivotally 2'" secured to said base, a plate member angularly ad ustably secured to a free end portion of the arm, and a yoke adjustably carried by said plate member and positioned transversely thereof,

3. In combination, a base, an arm angularly adjustably secured to said base, a plate member angularly adjustably secured to a free end portion of the arm, and a yoke adjustably carried by said plate member and positioned transversely there of, and adjustable in a longitudinal direction and also vertically and angularly relative to the plate 4. A corpse head rest, comprising a base an arm plvotally secured at one end to said base and angularly adjustable thereabove in a vertical plane, means for releasably securing said arm in an adjusted position, a supporting plate pivotally secured to the other end portion of said arm and adjustable arcuately in a, vertical plane means for releasably securing said plate in an adjusted position, a yoke adjustably supported by sa d arm, means for releasably securing said yoke in an adjusted position, and rods adjustably extended through the end portions of said yoke.

STEPHEN H. HANSON. 

